Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Licenses Two Neurodegenerative Disease Detection Technologies for Up to RMB 20 Million

In March 2024, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital publicly disclosed a technology transaction notice. It is reported thatThe hospital will exclusively license two core medical technologies to Jiangsu Yahuan Software Co., Ltd. at a proposed transaction price capped at RMB 20 million (comprising an upfront fee of RMB 200,000, milestone incentives of RMB 2.8 million, and sales royalties capped at RMB 17 million). The licensed technologies are: the invention patent titled “Wearable Device with Olfactory Detection Function” (Patent No.: ZL 202311025050.0) and the computer software copyright titled “Risk Assessment Software for Mild Cognitive Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes” (Registration No.: 2022SR0519228).。

Notably, the invention patent titled “A Wearable Device with Olfactory Detection Function” has drawn particular attention. This device eliminates interference caused by inherent memory during repeated olfactory tests, thereby ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of test results. In the future, this patent is expected to be widely applied in the monitoring of neurodegenerative diseases, providing physicians with more precise and reliable diagnostic evidence.

Another patented work, “Software for Assessing the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment in Type 2 Diabetes,” leverages advanced algorithms and data analytics technologies to accurately evaluate patients’ cognitive function, promptly identify potential risk factors, and provide robust support for physicians in developing personalized treatment plans.

Traditionally, the detection of olfactory dysfunction may serve as a sensory-based approach for predicting pathological changes in specific brain regions and monitoring disease progression. By mapping this neurosensory deficit to brain regions that are selectively vulnerable to specific types of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., the prefrontal cortex), well-validated olfactory tests offer the potential to predict pathology in specific brain areas and monitor disease progression.

However, public awareness of olfactory disorders remains generally insufficient, and existing olfactory testing devices, such as odor identification cards, suffer from limitations including a limited variety of odorants and the tendency for patients to develop fixed memory associations, thereby compromising the accuracy and validity of the tests.

To overcome the limitations of conventional olfactory detection devices, which fail to meet patients’ needs for self-testing, Professor Bi Yan’s team at Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital has developed a wearable device with olfactory testing capabilities. According to the patent specification, the device integrates advanced electronic components and mechanical structures, including key components such as a wristband, housing, test strips, and scanning equipment. The test strips feature grooves and comprise a scanning section, a limiting section, and a scraping strip section. The surface of the scraping strip section is covered with a scrape-off layer, beneath which various odorant substances are concealed.

andThe innovation of the device lies in its automatic switching and cleaning mechanism.. Through the ingenious combination of a first slider, springs, a scraper, and a torsion spring, the device can automatically switch the scraper after a single test, ensuring that patients’ results are not influenced by fixed memory during repeated tests. Meanwhile, the airflow mechanism installed within the housing enables unidirectional air flow, facilitating uniform odor release and detection. Furthermore, the cleaning mechanism cleans the tip of the scraper at the end of each test, maintaining the cleanliness and accuracy of the device.

This innovative device not only enhances the accuracy and reliability of olfactory testing but also enables presymptomatic detection of occult intracranial lesions.. By mapping olfactory sensory deficits to brain regions that are selectively vulnerable to specific types of neurodegenerative diseases, well-validated olfactory tests are poised to become important tools for predicting pathological changes in specific brain regions and monitoring disease progression.

With the rapid advancement of technology, the application of wearable devices in the medical field is becoming increasingly widespread. Particularly in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, their potential is gradually emerging and forming a large-scale market. These innovative devices not only provide patients with more convenient and personalized treatment plans but also inject new vitality into technological progress in the healthcare sector.

On July 3, 2023, a study from Cardiff University in the United Kingdom revealed the significant role of wearable devices in the early identification of Parkinson’s disease. Researchers found thatWearable devices such as smartwatches can identify Parkinson’s disease and make a clinical diagnosis up to seven years before the onset of its hallmark symptoms.This finding suggests that passively collected motion tracking data may serve as an early indicator for predicting the future progression of Parkinson’s disease, thereby enabling low-cost, non-invasive, large-scale population screening.

Furthermore, researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and the Boston University College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences have also collaborated to developA Flexible, Wearable Robot Designed to Help Parkinson’s Disease Patients Avoid Freezing of Gait and Improve Walking Ability. This robotic exosuit, worn around the hips and thighs, gently assists hip movement during leg swing, enabling patients to achieve a longer stride length and thereby improving gait quality.

In terms of medical device manufacturers, many companies have already made moves in the field of wearable devices. For example, founded in 2016Cognito Therapeutics, whose wearable neurostimulation devices deliver proprietary gamma-frequency light and sound stimulation to treat neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease.. The RuiPing MATRIX wearable motion and gait quantitative assessment system, developed by Hunan Zhenluo Medical, utilizes sensor devices placed at multiple data nodes on the human body to monitor physical activity and collect relevant data in real time. This enables the assessment of patients’ gait, postural balance, arm swing, and whole-body movement coordination, thereby providing robust support for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Scientific innovation is a key driver of the industrialization of wearable devices in the diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. As researchers continue to achieve breakthroughs in this field, the future will undoubtedly see the development of more innovative products.